An ergonomic keyboard that alleviates repetitive stress injuries by eliminating static repetition in the use of keyboards. The keyboard includes a plurality of key zones, the key zones being adapted to move. The zones are moved by moving means. The key zones move when any one or more of predetermined conditions occur such as a set time, number of keystrokes, time interval, keystrokes in a zone or area, preprogrammed injury status, preprogrammed injury prevention, programmed diagnosed condition, key temperature, keyboard vibration, manual adjustment, and user pattern or preference.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An ergonomic keyboard comprising: a plurality of key zones each of the plural key zones comprising a plurality of keys, the plural key zones being adapted to move with respect to at least two axes; and moving means, said moving means coupled to the plural key zones, the moving means configured to continuously move each of the plural key zones between a respective first work position and a respective second work position, wherein the key zones are moved by the moving means in a non-predefined pattern without user intervention when a predetermined condition occurs reactive to a user's physical needs and each of the plural keys in a respective key zone move synchronously, wherein the non-predefined pattern is based at least in part on the predetermined condition and the user's physical needs.
2. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the plural key zones are adapted to move independently.
3. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the plural key zones move in a synchronized manner.
4. The keyboard according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined condition is customized based in part on a desired motion to meet the user's physical needs.
5. The keyboard according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined condition is customized based in part on the desired motion.
6. The keyboard according to claim 1 , further comprising: a controller, said controller adapted to monitor predetermined conditions including keystrokes, time, and keystroke location, said controller activating the moving means based on the predetermined conditions.
7. The keyboard according to claim 6 , further comprising: a biometric sensor coupled to the keyboard to identify the user.
8. An ergonomic keyboard system comprising: a plurality of key zones each of the plural key zones comprising a plurality of keys, the plural key zones being adapted to move with respect to at least two axes; moving means, said moving means coupled to respective ones of the plural key zones to move the respective plural key zones in a non-predefined pattern between a first work position and a second work position reactive to a user's physical needs; a controller adapted to activate the moving means in the non-predefined pattern without user intervention in response to at least one predetermined condition based on the user's needs; and a computer programmed to monitor the at least one predetermined condition and provide a control signal to the controller in response to the at least one predetermined condition to meet the user's needs, wherein the non-predefined pattern is based at least in part on the at least one predetermined condition and the user's physical needs.
9. The keyboard according to claim 8 , further comprising: a wristrest, said wristrest being adapted to change temperature from a low temperature to a high temperature.
10. The ergonomic keyboard system of claim 9 , wherein the low temperature is substantially 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
11. The ergonomic keyboard system of claim 9 , wherein the high temperature is substantially 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
12. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous movements of the plural key zones include at least one of supination, pronation, flexion, extension, and rotation.
13. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the moving means are at least one of a motor, magnets, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
14. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys in a respective key zone are grouped by at least one of key location and key usage.
15. An ergonomic keyboard comprising: a stationary housing; a plurality of keys arranged in the stationary housing, the plurality of keys grouped into a plurality of key zones, each of the plural key zones configured to move independently between a first work position and a second work position within the stationary housing, wherein each of the groups of keys comprises at least two keys; and at least one drive element, the drive element configured to move each of the plural key zones in a non-predefined pattern without user intervention within the stationary housing reactive a user's physical needs, wherein the non-predefined pattern is based at least in part on a predetermined condition and the user's physical needs.
16. The keyboard according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of key zones are configured to move with respect to at least two axes.
17. The keyboard according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two axes are substantially orthogonal axes.
18. The keyboard according to claim 17 , wherein the axes are respective longitudinal and lateral axes.
19. The keyboard according to claim 17 , wherein the axes are a vertical axis and at least one of a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis.
20. The keyboard according to claim 16 , wherein the axes are a vertical axis and at least one of a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis.
21. The keyboard according to claim 8 , wherein the computer is a server arranged at a remote location from the keyboard.
22. The keyboard according to claim 21 , wherein the user's physical needs are determined by collating needs of a plurality of users.
23. An input device comprising: at least one motor configured to vary a position of the input device in a non-predefined pattern; at least one sensor configured to track a position of the input device; a sensing apparatus configured to monitor user motion by at least infrared motion detection; and a controller configured to activate the at least one motor to vary the position of the input device in the non-predefined pattern without user intervention based at least in part on data received from the sensing apparatus, wherein the non-predefined pattern is based at least in part on a predetermined condition and the received data.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 15, 2006
March 6, 2012
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